Thursday, January 16, 2014

A Bike Ride...Shall We?

I sit her updating my blog, not even knowing how Im going to get all thats in my head to my fingers to the keyboard. Im all over the place. Totally overwhelmed and not very in control like my typical Virgo self. My mind is constantly running, you have to do this and you have to do that. The fear is causing the mind to run that much faster. The fear of letting my body, my loved ones, fellow survivors, and ultimately my life down is taking over. But not in a motivating type of way, more in a woah Im buried way too deep so why not allow myself to fall a little deeper kinda way. The self criticism and perfection bullshit is so overwhelming that it is preventing me from doing what I need to do for my self.....which in turn causes that much more self criticism and destruction. I thought back and remembered how on the ball I was, both emotionally and physically I was ready to do whatever I needed to keep this cancer at bay. Now it wasn't the case. I think about it but Im not doing it. I spiraled out of control and was beating myself up every time I took a step backwards. The harder I was on myself the harder it was to stay on track. Actually I did the exact opposite. Ate toxic foods and beat myself up so much emotionally. Instead of affirmations it became negative thinking and putting myself down. Instead of cucumbers and celery it became pizza and sweets. Knowing I was stronger than this, I beat myself up that much more and the vicious cycle continued.

It dawned on me, quite a ways back, that Im just sick and tired of having to deal with all that cancer brings for the past six years and Im tired. Actually Im exhausted. In the beginning it was a new challenge...I hopped on the journey like it was a new bicycle I was learning to ride. Once I became educated on diet and emotional effects on cancer I weaved in and out of every natural aspect there was on the cancer path. I felt so invigorated and healthy that peddling that bike became addicting and second nature. My skin was glowing, my hair was shiny and I felt as beautiful and healthy as ever. I think of my many health and emotional challenges as hills on my bike ride journey, with that ultimate goal of finishing the course and getting the medal of "optimum health and happiness." As hard as they were I peddled steady and slow, sweating profusely but I got up those "hills." The hills came more frequently and as much as I sighed when I saw them I continued to do my steady peddle upward. Even if I had to get off the bike for a minute, breathe and get back on I made it up the hill. My face was blotchy and red, my hair was wet and in knots and my muscles were trembling from being overexerted. Other hills that popped out of no where, even though not as large as some of the hills I endured, were dreaded. Despite biking a hill 10x larger before like a champ, this moderately sized hill didn't even seem approachable. Self criticism came into play, "Lisa, you biked hills much bigger then this. what are you becoming weak? you giving up? You will never get the medal" The more hills the more I said I cant, yet I continued to peddle slowly and get myself up what seemed the never ending hills. The emotional stress and being so hard on myself can be thought of the weather on my bike course taking a turn for the worst. Rain, wind, lightning and complete darkness took over the course. Its cold, my body hurts, im weak and I cant look at one more damn hill and I don't give a damn about that medal. I decide to turn around and go down hill and forget about the medal.

After all, its easier to go downhill, right? As I turned around on the course, I felt a sense of relief. Nothing to be overwhelmed about anymore. Who cares about the medal. Ill just hope for the best and hope that this path takes me to the right place. I went down hill and the wheels spun out of control. I felt like I had no control over the bike. Steering the bike was my only sense of control. My leg movements were as if I had no muscles at all and they were just limbs being wound up like a jack in the box. As much as I tried to keep on course the bike had a mind of its own as it went down hill the speed of the bike got that much faster causing zero control. It hit a large rock and I went flying. Muddy, soaked, cold, and with ripped clothes I laid there and looked down to a bloody broken limb and wished I never turned around and went "down hill." This is a hell of a lot worse then trembling muscles. My body hurts even more and the weakness is now more heightened . All that effort that I put in staying the course, hill after hill, I gave up to have a far more worse experience. Where do I go from here? Sit here and feel sorry for myself or tend to my broken limb, take in the beauty on the course and get back on my bike and go uphill? Good news is that Im very familiar with the course and enjoy the feeling and benefits of going up hill much more. Im pretty bruised up but I surely plan on getting on that very first trail again. Im going to take it slow and rather than bombard myself with every little aspect of getting the medal, I will start with only a few strategies and add as I ride. Also, I realized (hello Im a therapist and an analyzer to the fullest) that affirmations rather then criticisms will get me a lot further and not make me want to throw in the towel and quit again. I mean after all I should give myself some credit, this month is year six and I put in a hell of an effort. Im still here with a stage IV melanoma diagnosis, thats pretty good and I for sure know its not luck. Its pure science. Nutrition, emotional and stress management and unloading anything toxic is critical to reverse cancer. So as I forewarned at the start of this post, I am all over the place and have been for quite sometime. Not doing what I KNOW I need to in order to shrink and keep these tumors away. I continue to not be a fan of conventional drugs and cancer treatment. The zelboraf did reduce many of my tumors but with horrible side effects. I reduced the dose and with no surprise, the tumors started getting larger again. I don't really trust the drug and my gut doesn't feel very good about it all. However, If the tumors continue to get bigger and cause me pain or the inability to eat, that would be problematic. So here I am for everyone to read, that I will embark on the journey that makes me feel amazing and kills cancer cells. That is the trail of lots of juicing, greens, veggies, nuts grains and berries. I will take all my supplements, including my mistletoe injections, biweekly vitamin infusions and at least five scoops of cellect daily to start. To not overwhelm myself I will add the other strategies of gaining optimum health and wellness slowly, week by week. I will not focus on how easy the bike ride used to be. I will live in the now and start with just getting back on my bike, keeping in mind that invigorating feeling of my skin glowing and the wind blowing through my hair.

It is Michael Burkhardt, an inspirational and incredible fellow cancer warrior and friend, who recently lost his battle, that motivates me to get back on track and take nothing for granted. With his beautiful wife, Eden, and their two adorable twin boys, Gavin and Reid, beside him, it was eight years that Michael endured brain cancer and he did it with humor and dignity. A cute little boy from the neighborhood, known for his red hair and freckles. One of the many children amongst the neighborhood kids. Graduated and was good friends with my oldest brother. My mother very good friends with Michael's mother. Michael and I re-connecting years later over cancer bullshit. We offered each other pointers, tips and encouragement. We often vented via text about how much cancer sucks and we wish we can get on with our lives. This summer our lives so parallel....both in lots of pain, pretty much unable to do much of anything but yet both still positive and with the will to fight. On my roughest days, despite going through his own horrid stuff, he always took the time to write me..... Always took the time to think of others...

"Hey! The pain was better, then got far worse. I am good and out of it now." In and out of consciousness. How are you? Have you been home or still at the hospital? I thought my mom said you were home. Hope so. Has your pain been managed well-hows the recovery been? You're a rockstar-been thinking about you and our crazy stories running sort of parallel lately..."

" Wow Lisa, what you've been going through sounds brutal. We all take so much for granted, until we're sick or hurting and all we want is our health back. It's so true when it comes to things like what you're going through. Whats a little back pain when your shoulder has been torturing you. People eat like shit, drink, smoke cigs, etc as if their health will always be there. It all changes when your ife is threatenend...."

"Hi Lisa-I just gave my mom the news of my MRI yesterday and she told me you were getting one today and why. Im so sorry you have been in such pain and have been through so much lately. I hope today reveals the best news possible for you and that anything that follows is as speedy and painless recovery as possible. sending lots of love to my fellow warrior..."

"I hope you feel better and im always available if you want to shoot the shit or just vent with someone who's with you through our shit. Lots of love."

There is such a thing as a cancer connection. When someone in your social network, whether indirectly or directly, has cancer along with you, there is an instant connection and a bond. Mike and I had that. I knew he was not feeling well and his cancer was progressing, but I was in complete denial that he would leave us. Hearing that news last week was that kick to the stomach when you are already hurled up on the floor in pain. Hit way too close to home. Stirred up way too much for me. Seeing the hundreds and hundreds of people waiting online for hours in the pouring rain to pay their respects for Michael was so moving it left me with goosebumps. It was uplifting and just showed how much he was loved and what a big footprint he left not only in my life but in this world. So thanks to Michael Burkhardt, I am motivated to get biking up that hill again. I leave you with his beautiful words....

"If you and your loved ones have their health, very little else actually matters. Its hard to fully appreciate that until your life has been threatened. Be good to yourselves. You have only one body, one vessel, to carry your soul for a lifetime." - Michael Burkhardt

I will post again soon and will be sure to share my strategies that I use long my bike ride. Life is short people, don't take what you have right in front of you for granted. Its so easy to be negative, think about all the positive in your life. There is always someone worse off and you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Hi Lisa, I love reading your blog. You have this special gift of sharing a unique perspective about your life's challenge with cancer. Challenge is even too meek a word! You've posted a beautiful picture of a bicycle. I'm glad your finding your stirde on your own bicycle ride and I believe that if you let it, Michael can be that soft blowing wind at your back giving you that strength to get through this. I pray every day you have no more pain or any wavering thoughts on your future.You will be well and healthy, I believe!!! Love Aunt Fran

I love you Lisa. Your posts are so important to us to understand the ups and downs. They also inspire me to be better to myself and reach out to friends and family. Thank you for your beautiful words, even when sharing such hard and sad times. Please continue to write, so we can cheer you on - hey all those fans/supporters don't show up at marathons for nothing! I'm glad Mike B inspired you and so many others. I know your relationship was special and I'm so sorry for your loss of a great friend/supporter. I can never fill his gap but I'm here for you!! Be strong like I know u are :) hey, you're the first person who had me bike ride alllll the way to Bethpage!! You can tackle this ride too, and continue to encourage others to do the same.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, feelings and experiences. As always Lisa, your words capture how incredibly awesome you are. I add my voice of love and support to help in any way to keep on peddling and to combat those inner voices that can be too hard on yourself. I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of Michael, your fellow warrior, but thankful that he continues to be an important source of inspiration.

Hi Lisa, I enjoyed reading about you and how honest you are about your emotions and your journey. I'm glad you took the holistic route. Since you like to research, you might want to explore essential oils. It may not sound like much but the scientific community has been finding a lot of positive results with reducing tumors using Frankincense oil, one of the oldest oils in existence. Good luck

Lisa,Truly we are all here to learn and grow from one another. Thank you for sharing your journey. I am touched, inspired and grounded by your recent post. Sending you positive energy & love! XoMissy Bernstein

Remember me? I'm Jo from Singapore. I have melanoma on my toe. Recently I went ahead with the amputation, resting at home now.I am closely following up my progress with my bio resonance therapist. Bio resonance is the so-called wave technology u talked about before. I strongly urge u to find such a therapist. It will help u.

Try to drink alkaline water. There's this alkaline water maker brand name is Kangen. Please go n check it out. Take 16g of Lypospheric Vitamin C a day. It will help control the formation of tumors n boost your immune system in fighting the stray cancer cells all over your body. I call this the "chemo" in natural therapy.

Be sure to include carrots, strawberries, raspberries, asparagus, broccoli n all cancer fighting vegetable n fruits as part of your daily meals.

I sincerely hope u will pull through this fight. It pains me to hear u suffering so much. Please get better, Lisa. I know u will.

Hi Lisa! My name is Cameron Von St. James and I had a quick question for you & was wondering if you could please email me when you have a free moment. Thanks! I really hope to hear from you soon and appreciate you taking the time. ☺ cvonstjames AT gmail DOT com

Hi All and to Lisa: All pain, itching and burning of my big breast cancer stopped within three days of nebulizing. Am breast cancer diagnosed since 1968 [yes, 1968] without metastatic liver lung brain bone [Pet Scan & CT 2014]. Am vegetarian diet [natural+juicing] over four decades. In 2000, quadrant lumpectomy. Only once in all the decades was I determined as cancer free and able then to have reconstruction performed in 2009, but the cancer became cruel and rose up in anger about it and grew to recent [2014 Pet Scan/CT Scan] determined five centimeters/two inch cancer tumor through my scar tissue towards underarm, which is why Lisa's site is so important to me. Almost every day for over two years since May of 2012, I have nebulized to achieve use of chemotherapy that does not poison http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328505.800-silver-packs-a-punch-as-chemotherapy-drug.html . I use a very very high concentration [20,000ppm and fill the nebulizer cup with 2 mL. of water and at least 5 mL. of 10% silver protein solution daily] and my blood tests show NO heavy metal toxicity after two years of almost daily and I mean it, daily nebulizing. I am not weak or sick or in any way detrimentally affected by nebulizing [no staining of teeth or mouth or throat and am not 'blue']. I am continuing to nebulize daily to 'chemo' the cancer because it stops the pain, itching and burning. If I stopped nebulizing, which I did for periods of time, I experienced that the sharp, shooting pains and aching in my sternum through to my back, etc. eventually reappeared. I would resume nebulizing and it would go away. As an example of what I do and to explain nebulizing to poison cancer and not poison me, http://www.silverlungs.com/video.html . However, the reason I started nebulizing was to 'cure', but it appears to keep the cancer from metastasizing. I was getting tired of the whole matter as Lisa expresses and recently found out about Black Salve and found the courage of Lisa and began to use the Black Salve on my breast, which chewed off the the smaller cancer[s] spreading and exposed the lid of my big cancer mass monster and am chasing it with my third Black Salve application. Aye Lass, its a wee bit of a painful drill, but I love that the Black Salve chews on the cancer, even though mine is in a very sensitive place [nipple to the underarm area of the my right breast]. The pain of the Black Salve on the first day applied, builds after a couple of hours and then I curl up into a fetal position and eventually it decreases to endurable and then subsides to a level of discomfort which is present, but not a big deal [about 8 hours in total], so it really is quite rewarding to get back at the cancer. I continue to nebulize to poison my blood that the cancer feeds on and perhaps the cancer weakens us because it is reducing the job of our blood to 'take out the garbage' of maintenance for our bodies. Because I experienced a brief couple of days of Jarisch Herxheimer effect the first week of nebulizing when I started over two years ago, [additional amount of necrotic burden in the bloodstream], I am certain the silver introduced into my bloodstream by nebulizing helps my cancer-challenged blood to clean up and may be the reason I have no loss of energy, because my blood has help 'taking out the garbage'. Hope this helps Lisa, because this site certainly has helped me to forge ahead with the Black Salve protocol. Peace&Love, Christine

Hello Beautiful Lady Lisa, doesn't that have a nice sound when you roll the phrase off your tongue?

I discovered your blog through a search for black salve. I loved your analogy of riding the bike.

I'm sitting at the bottom of the hill wounded & broken & wondering why I hadn't kept climbing. I was just sick & tired of being sick & tired. I was even tired of people telling me how brave I was & how much I'd overcome.

When I read your tribute to your fellow warrior Michael, I had tears rolling down my round rosy cheeks. Last Friday a dear friend of mine passed. She'd had a quick skirmash & a valiant victory. She showed dignity & spirit throughout her end. I still can't BELIEVE she's gone.

I'm not normally a weeper. It's such an unfamiliar territory & I don't like it. I suppose the tears are healing but they make my body FEEL awful. I get headachy, my eyes hurt, my nose is stuffy & feel like I've got the flu, every joint aches...of course the stress could have simply brought on a lupus flare. **sigh** It's always something.

I have a few pages on facebook you might want to visit. They are: http://www.facebook.com/Joyisachoicehttp://www.facebook.com/InjoyfulsLifeHope I made the links so they work. Be blessed & I leave with a sprinkle, scattering & spritz of joy. Be blessed.

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The name is LiSa. The age is 28. I have loving parents and an incredible immediate and extended family. My husband is the best thing that ever happened to me. I love to decorate anything from a room to a piece of paper to a cookie or a cake. I adore my puppy Marli. I am a therapist to adolescent boys with psychiatric issues. I love hearts, candles, and veggies. I love to smile! It makes me happy to be around children. Naturally, I love to shop! I have fantasies about changing the world. Im always thinking about what I could do next before Im finished with whatever Im working on. So, why am I here you ask? Im eager to share my experience with being diagnosed with the big C. Yup that dreaded horrific disease that is way too prevelent these days....cancer. I have stage IV melanoma. The journey began with the "big guys" in the white coats over at places like Sloan Kettering. They meant well and tried to help me but unfortunatley they just dont have the answer. I followed the windy turns of which ever direction the path wanted to take me and I wound up on the holistic, all natural route. It kinda just happened.... and boy, am I happy it did. I feel good for the most part and am seeing some amazing results. More than anything I am learning so much. For a girl who hated science class I just want to throw my self in the books and absorb everything. I wish I could dive inside my body or anyone's for that matter and just get a tour to see how everything works. This blog is my outlet to share with whoever is intersted in reading about my experiences and what I have learned on this long windy journey. I, firsthand, am experiencing the bullshit in the world of cancer and want to help others understand all the hidden and incredibly helpful facts about cancer. Yes... I still have cancer and am not sure how things will turn out. But I do know that changes in my nutrition and lifestyle alone have made a dent more so than any drug that was given to me by the "big guys." Welcome to my outlet! Read at your leisure...